BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team Miller Motorsports Park Preview

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – July 8, 2010… The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team makes its final trip west this season when it travels to Miller Motorsports Park, in Tooele, Utah, for the July 11th Round 4 of the 2010 American Le Mans Series.

With four podium finishes in the first three races of the season, BMW stands second in GT manufacturer points. BMW M3 GT co-drivers Joey Hand and Dirk Müller, along with Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner, stand third and fourth in Driver points respectively.

The team recently tested for two days at Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Ga., to prepare for the heart of the season that will see five races within the next eight weeks.

“We are happy that the June break in the ALMS schedule has concluded,” said Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager. “Our test at Road Atlanta provided good development data for the hottest months, and I am confident that we can carry the momentum from the first half of the season into the summer blitz.”

"Our guys have been eager to get back into the battle and we are eagerly anticipating this weekend's race at Miller Motorsports Park,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal.“We have run some good tests over the Le Mans break and we will continue our pattern of improvement. The team is ready. I know the drivers are ready and we should start the second half of the season with a strong race."

Following a test session on Friday, official practice begins on Saturday with two one-hour practice sessions before a 20-minute qualifying session at 2:55 p.m. The Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix is scheduled to start Sunday at 2:35 p.m Mountain Time. The two-hour-and-forty-five-minute contest will be broadcast same-day on SPEED television beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Joey Hand, Driver, No. 90 M3 GT:“The race at Miller Motorsports Park was one of our toughest races last year, but I think that race was a turning point for the team. We have continued the development of tire compounds, suspension, and damper control so we effectively have a whole new program this time around and I plan for us to continue our podium streak.”

Dirk Müller, Driver, No. 90 M3 GT:“I’m proud to have raced the BMW Art Car at Le Mans and now I’m looking forward to the next exciting round of ALMS competition. After a dramatic race at Laguna Seca I know the BMW-RLR guys have prepared our M3 GT machines to score more points for the championship. We really want to win.”

Bill Auberlen, Driver, No. 92 M3 GT: “Miller has become one of my favorite tracks. This team never rests and is constantly thinking of new ways to go faster. With a little luck maybe I believe we can find our way to victory lane this year. BMW has captured the podium in every race this season, and that really gives you an idea of how far we have come.”

Tommy Milner, Driver, No. 92 M3 GT:“I'm stoked to get back to racing again. The test at Road Atlanta went very well. The heat was intense so Dunlop was able to gather some very good data. If we see the expected hot conditions in Utah, we will be prepared. We’re in the hunt for a championship and I'll be working hard to get back on the podium at Miller.”

About BMW Rahal Letterman Racing:

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 336 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 143 BMW motorcycle retailers, 97 MINI passenger car dealers, and 31 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

BMW’s partner, Rahal Letterman Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and CBS LATE SHOW host David Letterman, has been competing for more than a decade compiling 20 victories, 30 poles and one series championship (Bobby Rahal in 1992 in CART) and an Indianapolis 500 championship (Buddy Rice in 2004). In 2008 Rahal Letterman Racing again won Rookie-of-the-Year honors at the Indianapolis 500 and partnered with Andersen Racing to run two entries in the Indy Pro Series. In 2009 the team joined BMW of North America to campaign the BMW M3 as BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team in the American Le Mans Series.